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Our Thoughts Exactly: 2025 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance

May 28, 2025 by Randy Stern
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How did we get this the 2025 Midwest Automotive Media Association Spring Rally at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin?

Actually, George and I went in separate vehicles. He took the V&R Machine as our back-up vehicle. I took this…a 2025 Lexus RX 500h F Sport Performance.

It’s an annual tradition…sort of. The idea that we take we worked with that week leading up to our media association big confab – the one where about 80-100 media members gather to drive the latest and greatest of vehicles available to us. The one centered at Road America. 

This review is not about the MAMA Spring Rally. That’s another article on here…

Like I said, both George and I worked with this RX 500h…our third version of the fifth and current generation of the original luxury crossover. In fact, we covered two prior generation models, including participating in media drives and a social media project with them. We even put them on long trips – mainly to and from the Chicago area, as well as into the Iron Range. 

We’re not bragging here. It is a simple fact that the RX is a common vehicle we work with. We had turbocharged gas versions, V6s, hybrids, and plug-in hybrids. You can also add F Sport models and the three-row RX L into the mix.

NOTE: If you are curious about all of these previous turns in the Lexus RX, click on all of the highlighted links within this article. 

It’s probably best that I avoid a deep dive into our history working with the Lexus RX. We should concentrate on the one we just wrapped up on.

You should be familiar with the current RX by now. There is really no need to recap with is familiar to you, as readers of Victory & Reseda. The F Sport adds a specific grille texture from the front logo downward. That grille pattern is found on the front lower “vents” and rear bumper “vents.” It sort of remind me of the RC F. That car is still a vibe.

The F Sport Performance package adds a set of 21-inch matte black finished alloy wheels on all-season tires. A smart choice given what this SUV has gone through in its last two days with me. 

The Iridium paint color is fine. Perhaps suitable for the F Sport Performance model. 

Where the Iridium color truly comes into play is inside the RX 500h F Sport Performance. The red/black color scheme in perforated leather and suede is sporty and can induce you into thinking you can master the road. The front seats offer bolstering and support that are engaging. I found no fatigue on my trip to Elkhart Lake. Rear seat room should be great for four-to-five people. In our case, four would be perfect. 

The instrument cluster is clean. There is a trick that makes the power meter disappear when you engage the Adaptive Cruise Control. That makes the screen even cleaner. You also get a head-up display, which is extremely useful and clear. All other controls are familiar and expected in any of the current generation RX models. They just work accordingly. 

Another trick to the RX is the location of the drive modes on the 14-inch Lexus Interface touchscreen. Clicking the car icon gets you there. There is Sport, which delivers a more aggressive shift and throttle mapping, along with suspension adaptability. A bit of a surprise after years of accessing a knob to operate this function.

The requisite connectivity options are there. We use Apple CarPlay, which integrates well with the Lexus Interface screen. A comparison between the native navigation and Apple Maps yielded the same directional results. Directions do appear on the instrument cluster screen, as well as on the head-up display. 

If you got music on your mind, the available Mark Levinson Premium Audio System send your favorite tunes through 21 speakers throughout the cabin. I was enjoying a few tunes myself – may I suggest the 1994 remix of “You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No)” by Dawn Penn? It is a rocksteady classic!

Road tripping is made easy with a 29.6 cubic feet space behind the rear seats. The rollator and large suiter fit perfectly with room to spare. If I had much more to bring, then I have up to 46.2 cubic feet of space to load up. Honestly, I thought there was much more space than these numbers state on the spec sheet. 

With all of the RX configurations I worked with over the years, this is the first time I experienced the turbocharged hybrid driveline of the RX 500h. This powertrain incudes a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, two electric motors, a six-speed automatic transmission, and the Direct4 all-wheel drive system. The latter is specifically developed for electrified drivelines. This system yields a net combined 366 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. 

With this driveline and the F Sport Performance designation, I was not expecting the level of acceleration and power from, say, an RC F or GS F. However, this turbocharged hybrid does get up and go. It also loves to cruise on the highway. Passing is not a problem, as well. As for fuel economy, we averaged 24.1 MPG with this turbocharged hybrid. 

The F Sport Performance trim adds a couple of fun chassis tech features that would come into play for you. One, is the Adaptive Variable Suspension. It does the job by reading the tarmac and translating it into actual dampening for the situation. The other is Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system with Dynamic rear wheel steering. This enables a smaller turning radius, as well as making quicker work on the curves. 

In order to fully appreciate these two features, you have to have the RX 500h in Sport mode. Which would be something to truly enjoy, if it was not for the condition of some of the roads we traversed during our time in this SUV. Not to mention, the weather. Although it would amount to maximum hoonery, it was probably best to keep the RX 500h in Normal for better traction response through the rainstorms we experienced. In particular, when I was headed to Elkhart Lake in massive wet conditions. 

That’s not to say that the RX 500h F Sport Performance was less fun to drive. It does deliver on the comfort you expect in a Lexus SUV – even better. When you keep in Normal mode, the ride quality is very solid. It also absorbs those rougher pieces of roadway without causing any concern from passengers. It also manages curves and evasive maneuvers with the utmost competence. 

In regard to the steering, its on-center feel was OK. It does take some driver assistance features enabled to manage it and keep it within the lane. It also does a good job with lane tracing when the highway tales a subtle turn.  For stopping power, the pedal felt a bit soft. Yet, it will turn in solid stops in normal, panic and wet conditions.

There is an upshot on this RX 500h F Sport Performance. Taking it from the Twin Cities to Elkhart Lake for the MAMA Spring Rally was very enjoyable – even in very wet conditions. It handled the heavy rain quite well, without any loss of traction. One thing worth repeating was that I felt no fatigue for the time behind the wheel. Quite the opposite. You might say it helped to enjoy that first evening with my fellow compatriots with the media association. 

For 2025, Lexus offers a total of 14 different trim levels that encompass four different drivelines. Pricing for the entire RX line starts at $50,475. Our 2025 RX 500h F Sport Performance tester came with a sticker price of $74,795.

The Lexus RX has proven to be a great road trip vehicle. It offers the right amount of space, practicality, and driving experience you should look for in a luxury SUV. No matter which one you choose, you simply cannot go wrong. 

If it were me…you know, that RX 500h F Sport Performance stokes the enthusiast in me. Maybe it’s the red/black interior? Maybe because of the badge and specification? Maybe…something else…something intangible?

Which one should you choose? That would depend on which driveline you choose, the type of electrification you want to have, the equipment level, and so forth. The best advice I can say is choose your Lexus RX the way you feel great in. 

After all, a vehicle should always put a smile on your face every time you drive off in it. Including a Lexus RX. 

DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by Toyota Motor North America

All photos by Randy Stern 

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About Victory & Reseda

Victory & Reseda is a website/blog telling the story of the automobile through the eyes of freelance automotive writer Randy Stern and friends. This website/blog serves as a virtual intersection of the automobile, its culture, the past, present and future of personal transportation. It also features travel pieces that center on the automotive experience.

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